Stuffing box



April 7, 1931. A. G. Hr-:GGEM 1,799,297

STUFFING -BOX Filed Sept. 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .J f 4 @Ff f Patented Apr,` 7, 1931,

ALFRED G. HEGGEM, OF TULSA,OKLAHOMA Y sTUFrING BOX Application filed September 12, 1927. Serial No. 219,005.

y My invention relates to stuffing boxes of the type primarily designed for use in connection'with a reciprocating element such as i Va drilling lineor polished rod einployedin :fil welloperations. The principal object of the invention is to provide simple and efiicient means whereby packing may be readily adjusted to maintain it in operative engagement with the reciprocating element thus 10 preventing loss ofv oil or other iiuid. An-

other and important object of the invention is to construct Vthe stuiing'box so thatmeans is provided above and below the packing to Y relieve the latterA fromV the lateral thrusts Y `usually imparted thereto bythe reciprocating element, which, dueto its actuating mechanism, tends to travel in the arc of a circle. 1

The principal feature of the invention consists in providing the stuiing box with 4a member having spaced apertured portions for receiving a reciprocating element land adapted to prevent lateralmovement there- 1 of, said member4 being fashioned to accommodate a plurality of packing units, and in combining therewith meansmhavingV wedging cooperation with the packing units for forcv ing them into operative engagement with the p reciprocating element.

A furtherfeature of thefinventionresides in forming a stuiiingbcxvwith a passageway for a reciprocating elementand a plurality of oppositely disposed lateral openings, and in combining therewith, a plurality of packing members respectively mounted Vin said openings, and means for ysimultaneously wedging said` packing` members into operativeV engagement with theV reciprocating element. 1

Another vand morejspeciic feature of the invention consists in providing the stuffing box with 'a member fashioned withl alined apertures vfor the passage of a reciprocating element andhaving lateral openings interinediatesaid apertures, and in associating CTI F'gure l is a plan viewof av stuffing box v v embodying a preferred form of `the invention.- Figure 2 is a sectionalviewon the line 2 2, Fig. V1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3,Fig. 1. t j

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the central body member. Y Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5 5, Fig. 3. A

Figure 6V is a detail sectional view ofone of the packing units. y

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 7 7, F I A Figure 8 is a detail sectional view of one of the packing followers.

FigureV 9 is a plan view of the follower shown in Fig. 8.

In the drawings 1 indicates the main body Vmemberv ofthe stuffing box formed with spaced cylindrical portions 2 and 3 having alined apertures 4 andV 5, respectively, for the passage of a reciprocating element, such as a drilling line or polished rod, not shown. Each Vof these portions, 2Vand 3, is preferably exteriorly threaded, the former for connection to an oil well casing or tubinghead, coupling orthe like, the latterfor receiving the adjustably rotatable housing. Intermediatethe cylindricalportions 2 and 3, the 9@ Y member l formed with substantially frustoconical sections 7 and 8 arranged in inverted relation.

The upper cone sections 7 and a part of the upper cylindrical portion 3 of the niember 1 are provided with lateral openings or slots 9 and l() having a communication with the passageway for the reciprocating element, the openings being preferably disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of the alined apertures 4 and 5. These openings extend from the upper apertured portion 3 downwardly to the complementary bases 11 of the cone frustas. lThat the member 1 may not be too heavy and cumbersome portions of the upper cone section on opposite sides of the openings 9 and 10 may advantageously be removed, as indicated at 12, sufiicient metal being left to form rigidifying ribs or flanges 13.

Removably mounted in each of the lateral openings or slots for cooperating with the reciprocatingl element to prevent the loss of oil or other fluid is a packing member or unit 'll whose inner surface may be provided with a plurality of grooves for enhancing its flexibility. The side walls 16 of each of the members 1e extend parallel to and contact with the respective side walls of the openings 9 and 10.

The packing units are fashioned with curved outer surfaces 17 to cooperate with the followers 18 whose inner surfaces 19 are correspondingly curved to insure practically uniform application to the packing units of pressure transmitted thereto from the followers. Each of the followers is substantially triangular in section, clearly shown in Figure 8, and their outer surfaces 2() are conically shaped. Extending laterally from opposite edges of the lower inverted conical surface of the followers 18 are a plurality of legs or flanges 21 for support-ing the latter in an upright position and adapted to have sliding engagement with the respective bottom walls of the openings 9 and 10.

The interior of the housing 6 which is threaded at its upper end for cooperation with the upper cylindrical portion 3 of the member 1 has an intermediate conical surfa ce 22 adapted to have wedging*engagement with the followers 18 for simultaneously moving them inwardly to force the packing units into operative engagement with the rcciprocating element. This conical surface is of slightly greater inclination than that of the cooperating surfaces of the wedge Afollowers so that the latter contacttherewith only at points lying in a single plane or line, thereby insuring that the adjusting pressure may be applied at the point best suited for the conditions encountered. In the present illustration the pressure is applied substantially centrally of the followers, but variations in the resiliency or toughness of the rubber packing may make it desirable to apply the pressure considerably below the centers of the followers. As the bottom wall of each of the openings 9 and 10 are disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, the followers and packing units which are supported thereon are caused to move in a direction normal to the axis of the alined apertures.

The interior of the lower end of the housing 6 is cylindrical, as indicated at 23, and, being concentric with and of slightly greater diameter than the annular portion 11 of the member 1, moves downwardly over the latter when the housing is rotated to wedge the packing units into their operativel positions. Handles Q4 may advantageously be secured to the housing, thus affording convenient means for rotating it in the desired direction.

Notwithstanding a lateral movement may be imparted to the reciprocating element by its actuating mechanism, it will be observed, 4that the alined apertured portions 2 and ofthe member 1 constitute effective means for guiding the reciprocating part in a substantially straight line, whereby the packing units which are interposed between thc said apertured portions are not subjected to lateral thrusts.

It will be appreciated that by this construction the packing units may be readily removed rand replaced, and means are provided wherein the mechanical advantage of a wedging action is most effectively utilized for actuating the packing units.

I claim:

1. A stuiiing boX involving a member havin g spaced apertured guide portions for receiving ya reciprocating element and preventing lateral movement thereof, said member being fashioned to accommodate packing means, and means embracing and movable with respect to said member having wedging cooperation with the packing means for forcing the latter into operative engagement with the reciprocating element.

2. A stuffing box involving a member provided with spaced integrally connected portions having apertures for the passage of a reciprocating element, said member being formed intermediate said portions with openings for receiving a plurality of packing members, and means for simultaneously wedging each of the packing members into operative engagement with the reciprocating element, said means including a common operating means engaging and encircling said member.

3. A stuffing -boX involving a member provided with a passsageway for aI reciprocating element and havin@ a plurality of openings communicating with the passageway, a plurality of packing members respectively mounted in said openings, and vwedging vmeans cooperable with said packing members for forcing them into operative engagement with the reciprocating element, said lee iis

means involving a plurality of engaging wedge members one of which 1s mounted on said first-named member and movable with respect thereto in the direction of length of l rality of relatively movable flollowers of wedge form-and a movable wedge member engaging each of said followers to act-uate the latter.

5. The combination with a stuffing box provided with alined apertures for the passage of a recprocating element and havinga plurality of lateral openings, ofva plurality of packing members respectively mounted in said openings substantially parallel to the axis of the alined apertures, and wedging means cooperable with the packing members for forcing them into operative engagement with the reciprocating element, said means comprising a plurality of followers of wedge form and a rotatable member encircling said followers and having wedging engagement therewith.

6. A stuffing box involving a member having spaced apertured portions for the passage of a. reciprocating element, a plurality of packing units carried said member intermediate its apertured portions and means encircling one of said portions for adjustably wedging the packing units into operative engagement with the reciprocating element.

7. The combination with a stuffing box provided with an inner member having spaced apertured portions for the passage of a re` ciprocating element, and having openings intermediate said portions for receiving packing units, one of said portions being lexteriorly threaded, of a plurality of packing units extending into said openings and carried by the inner member intermediate said spaced portions, andan outer vmember enga'geable with the threaded portion of said inner member and cooperable with the packing units for wedv'ino them into o erative en a ement with the reciprocating element.

8. A stufng box involving a member having spaced alined apertures for the passage of a reciprocating element, said member being provided with a plurality of lateralopenings extending outwardly through the walls ofsaid member intermediate said alined apertures, a plurality of packing units respectively mounted in said openings, and wedging means cooperable with said packing units `for forcing them simultaneously vinto operative engagement with the reciprocating element, said `edging meansinvolving ajwedge member which is rotatable Varnmd an axis passing through said alinedaperturesj.

j 9. Thecombination with astuiiing boxhaving a passageway for a reciprocating element andV a plurality' of vopenings communicating therewith, of' a plurality of .packingvunits respectively mounted in said openings, ,andi-a rotatable housing coperable 'with s a-id packing lunits forV wedging them intoY operative engagement with the reciprocating element.

l0. A stuffing box involving a member provided vwith alined apertures for the passage of a reciprocating element and having lateral openings intermediate said apertures,

a plurality of packing units respectively mounted in said openings, and wedging means for advancing the packing units toward the axis of the alined apertures, said means involving wedge followers engageable` with said packing members and a cooperating rotatable housing for actuating said followers. i

ll. The combination with a stuing box having a passageway for a reciprocating element, of a plurality of packing units, and means for forcing the latter into operative engagement with the reciprocating element, said means involving wedge followers respectively engageable with the packing units, and a rotatable housing for actuating the followers, the member and followers having cooperating angularly disposed inclined surfaces.

. 12. A stuffing box involving a member provided with alined apertures for the passage of a reciprocating element and having al plurality of lateral openings, packing units respectively disposed in said openings, and wedging means for advancing the packing units toward the axis of the alined apertures, said means involving wedge followers engageable with said packing units and a cooperating rotatable housing for actuating said followers, the latter being supported by said apertured member and adapted to move radially in a direction normal to the said axis.

- 13. A stuiing box involving a member provided with al passageway for a reciprocating element and having an annular portion substantially normal to the axis of the passageway, of a plurality of packing units carried by said portion, and wedging means for forcing the packing units into operative engagement with the reciprocating element, said means involving a plurality of followers respectively engagable with the packing units and a cooperable rotatable housing having a conical interior surface for actuating said followers, the said conical surface terminating in a substantially cylindrical surface concentric with the annular portion of the said member.

14. The combination with a stuffing box having alined openings for the passage of a reciprocating element, of a plurality of packing units, wedge followers respectively en-V gageable with the letter, and means for acmating the Wedge. iollowers for forcing the packing units into operative engagement with the reciprocating element, each of said followers being fashioned with laterally eX- tending legs so as to cause them upon being actuated by said means to move n a; dleltion normal tothe :ms o the alined Qpellixlgs-` 1n testimony whereof I aix my Signature.

" ALFRED G 

